Take your studying to the next level with proven positive studying habits. Click here to learn more.
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The difference between studying at high school and college/university level is dramatic – you’re somewhat grossly underprepared for it; there’s no denying that. Yes, the foundational skills are there but taking it to the level required for an associate or bachelor’s degree in the US is challenging. The level of detail, meticulous research, and hours of dedication can prove all too much for the unprepared student.
Still, after multiple conducted studies and numerous personal accounts, experts have compiled the top proven studying habits to adopt for greater success. Read on to learn more.
Mind Over Matter
The first hurdle? Your mind. How many times have you looked at a task with dread, built an expectation up in your mind, and bailed out for the day? Mind over matter is an excellent principle to target this. By the Oxford dictionary definition, it means – ‘the use of willpower to overcome physical problems.’ The result? Understanding revision is temporary – put your mind to it, and the matter drifts away.
Why? Mental health. In the US, over three-quarters of students suffer from mental health, ranging from anxiety to depression. We understand that putting mind over matter is not always as simple, and so do websites like Top10.com that highlight the best mental health services.
Perhaps the following tips will calm your mind.
The Science Behind Your Environment
Your environment has a profound effect on both your mental health and your ability to focus. Studies surrounding a tidy environment and a tidy mind have proven that the space we put ourselves in nurtures our focus. Something as simple as making the bed each morning, opening the curtains and letting sunlight (or natural light) into the room, and opening the window for fresh air makes a marked difference in mental focus.
Studies by the American Psychological Association also prove that natural environments improve cognitive working memory – a coffee on a bench in the park with some studying? The crème de la crème.
‘Time Boxing’
Time boxing is the perfect way to study if you feel overwhelmed and anxious. Time boxing is as it sounds – you put your time into boxes and unpack the boxes throughout the day. Rather than spending time overwhelmed at the daunting task of studying for hours on end, you might for 20-minute blocks. Essentially, you’re doing the same amount of work but in boxes of time.
The benefit? You won’t find yourself distracted. On average, the human mind can stay 100% focused for up to 90 minutes. After that, thoughts of TikTok and Chick-fil-A creep in – before you know it, you’re on the bed scrolling through Instagram with a burger by your side.
Plan your day in 60-minute ‘time boxes’ with a 20-minute break and see what better results you achieve.
Task Batching
Task batching is similar to time boxing. It helps facilitate productivity by allowing you to create an assembly line of tasks, which you can then time box. Task batching creates a realistic day – do you have an exam for biology on human anatomy? OK, so you task batch your day into segments.
One day might focus on bone formation, and another might focus on the five basic structures of human anatomy. You can then break it down into segments – each of the five basic structures, for example, becoming its own segment, or ‘time box.’
Hopefully, this article fills you with excellent studying advice. Being a student is never easy – but with helpful tips along the way, you can ease the burden and flourish in college/university life.